Window shade adjuster



Sept. 17, 1940. J. HYLAND WINDOW SHADE ADJUSTER Original Filed June 1,1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l p 17, 1940- J. L. HYLAND WINDOW SHADE ADJUSTER oriinal Filed June 1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 17, 1940 PATENTOFFICE WINDOW SHADE ADJUSTER John L. Hyland, New York, N. Y.

. Application June 1, 1936, Serial No. 82,969

Renewed April 10, 1939 8 claims. (01. 15s-.-'27

This invention relates to an improvement in window shade adjusters, moreparticularly for adjusting the position of a window shade bodily withrespect to a window, whereby the shade may bemoved bodily todifferentvertical and angular positions with respect to the window.

The object of the invention is to provide suitable shade effect, whileat the same time maintaining proper ventilation at the top and bottom ofa window without rattling of the shade. This is accomplished by thebodily adjustment of the shade vertically and angularly relative to thewindow which leaves ventilating space at the top and bottom, whendesired, allowing free circulation of air through the top and bottom ofthe window into and out of the room for complete and thoroughventilation thereof, without creating an undue disturbance due to theshaking and rattling of a shade as was frequently the case heretofore.By providing proper ventilation for the room, by letting fresh air in atthe bottom of the window and foul air and gases out at the top, properventilation is obtained which will materially improve living conditionsfor a large number of people. Furthermore, this ventilator and noiselessshade will'allow users thereof to sleep peacefully although they mayhave been awakened heretofore almost every night by noisy window shadeequipment. By adjusting the shade to different bodily positions relativeto the window, it is useful for various other purposes, such as anawning, a ventilator, a light reflector, etc.

Another feature of the present invention is its use to prevent the shadefrom rolling up at the top and getting out of reach, as frequentlyoccurs with shades of the type used heretofore, and it also serves tohold the shade against blowing through the open window out of its propernormal position.

In carrying out these objects of the invention, the shade is supportedby balance weights which are enclosed in channels fastened to oppositesides of the window frame. In addition to the balance weights, a pair ofarms is provided to position the shade bodily with respect to the windowand to adjust it to different positions, which arms are connected with asupport for the shade and have provision for detachable and adjustableconnection with the channels.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

55 Fig. l is a front elevation of the shade adjuster applied to awindow;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a window showing the shade in a differentposition with respect thereto;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of the holder and arm adjuster;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the guide and weight supporting thecarrier.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, the window frame is designated W, and has securedto the inner side thereof a pair of channels I, which extend verticallyalong the inner side thereof, and each of these channels is sectionalwith the sections telescoped so as to fit windows of different sizes. F

The shade is designated generally by the numeral 2, and may be of thespring-type having pintles 3 at the opposite ends thereof, which arereceived in brackets i of a shade carrier 5, which is also made in twosections telescopically connected together and which extendstransversely ofthe window. The carrier 5 has cords 6, secured toopposite ends thereof for supportingthe same, and the shade carriedthereby, which cords 9 extend over guides I at the top of the channelsI, thence downwardly into the channels, and having counter-weights 8,attached to the lower ends thereof, or the cords may extend throughopenings in the counter-weights and then upwardly for attachment to thechannels or frame at the opposite side, allowing the counter-weights toWork in loops of the cords, in order to have less movement of thecounterweights vertically in the channels.

The carrier 5 has sockets 9 formed therein, and receiving the inturnedends II] of arms II which are used to adjust the shade to differentpositions with respect to the window. The arms II are formed of springmetal normally tending to spread apart, in order to bear against theinner sides of the window frame. Each arm II has its opposite end formedin a reversed bend I2, which serves as a hand-hold for adjusting thearms and shade, and this portion l2 also serves to hold the windowcurtains and drapes in place when thewindow is open. The extreme end I3of the arm is formed to enter any one of a series of holes I4, formed inthe inner side of the channel I, in order to hold the arm in a desiredposition.

By grasping the portions I2 of the arms, the shade may be moved bodilyup or down, as desired, with respect to the window, which upwardmovement is assisted by the counter-Weights 8 on the cords 6, and inFig. 1 the shade is shown in the position where it allows the window tobe openat top and bottom for complete ventilation of the room. When theshade is moved up or down to the desired position, the ends I3 of thearms II are inserted into holes I4 in the channels, in order to hold theshade in this position.

In Fig. 1, the shade is fiat against the window in which position itserves merely as a shade, but

shade it should be evident from Figs. 2 and 3, that it may be adjustedto other positions to serve as an awning, a light reflector, draftprotector, or it may be moved to one side or other of the window, so asto allow light to come into the room by one side of the window fromwhich the shade is moved, while the shade covers the other side only, asshown in Fig. 3, and may serve to reflect light to the opposite side. Inthat position, only one arm II need be attached to its adjacent channel,while the other arm may hang free and the shade will then stand out atan angle to the window for the purpose described. I

As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, the shade extends laterally fromthe window with its upper edge spaced therefrom, so as to serve as anawning, or the like, or if lowered to the bottom of the window, it willserve as a draft protector, but in either event the shade is heldforwardly away from the window by the arms I I, which are attached tothe carrier 5 and which serve to swing the shade forwardly from thewindow on the cords 6.

In the different adjusted positions of the shade, particularly asrepresented in Fig. 2, the free edge of the shade opposite the roller 2,should be fastened to the channels I, in order to hold the shade inplace and toprevent rattling or blowing thereof by the wind. This isaccomplished in this form of the invention by the provision of pins orrods I5, which are shaped to enter the holes I4, if desired, or to pressagainst the inner sides of the channels in order to hold the free edgeof the shade in place by friction. The pins or rods I5 arespring-pressed in order .to hold them in an extended position normally.

By the provision of inside awnings for the room, rather than outsideawnings, a very large percentages of fires will be prevented which haveresulted heretofore from dropping lighted cigarettes or matches on theawnings. At the same time accidents resulting from putting up or takingdown or adjusting awnings will be eliminated. The adjustment of theshade to prevent a view into the room from the outside, may be madewithout disturbing the ventilation and lighting of the room, so as tolet in light and air from the outside and yet excluding vision into theroom.

Iclaim;

1. In a window shade adjuster, the combination of a window frame, a pairof upright sup-' ports having vertically spaced openings therein, awindow shade carrier, arms each having one end engaging the carrier andthe other end in position to enter an opening in the adjacent uprightsupport to hold the carrier in a predetermined lateral position,relative to the window frame, and means other than said arms forsupporting the weight of the carrier for freedom of movement of thecarrier bodily laterally relative to the window frame.

2. In a window shade adjuster, the combination of a window shadecarrier, flexible means for support'mg opposite ends of the carrier forbodily lateral movement of the window shade and carrier relative to awindow, upright guides on opposite sides of the window and having aplurality of vertically spaced openings therein, and spring arms onopposite sides of the carrier and each having an end engaging thecarrier and the opposite end in position to engage in an opening of theadjacent guide.

3. In a window shade adjuster, the combination with a window havingvertically arranged 4. In a window shade adjuster, the comb-ination'withupright guides, of a window shade carrier, flexible means connected withopposite ends of said carrier and supporting the same for bodilymovement up and down relative to the guides. and for forward movementrelative thereto, at least one of said guides having vertically spacedstops, and an arm connected with said carrier and detachably engagingone. of said stops for positioning the carrier laterally relative to theadjacentguide.

. 5. In a window shade adjuster, the combination with upright guides, ofa window shade carrier supporting a window shade, flexible meansconnected with opposite ends of said carrier and supporting the same forbodily movement up and down and forwardly relative to the guides, saidguides having vertically spaced openings therein, arms each having oneend connected with an end of the carrier and the opposite end detachablyengaging one of the openings in the adjacent guide for positioning thecarrier laterally relative to the guides, and means for attacking thefree end of the window shadeto the guides.

6. In a window shade adjuster, the combination with upright guides, of awindow shade carrier, flexible means connected with opposite ends ofsaid carrier and supporting the same for bodily movement up and down andforwardly relative to the guides, said guides having verticallyspacedopenings therein, and spring arms each having one end detachably andpivotally connected with an end of the carrier and the opposite enddetachably engaging one of the openings in the adjacent guide forpositioning the carrier laterally relative thereto.

7. In a window shade adjuster, the combination with upright hollowguides, of a window shade carrier, a cord connected with each end ofsaid carrierand extending into the adjacent hollow guide and supportingsaid end therefrom, a. weight attached to each cord in the guide forraising said carrier bodily relative to the guides, said carrier beingfree for bodily movement transversely, relative to the guides whilesupported on the cords, said guides having vertically spaced openingstherein, and arms pivotally connected with opposite ends of the carrierand having free ends in position to engage the openings in the guidesfor positioning the carrier laterally relative thereto. a

8. In a window shade adjuster, the combination with upright guideshaving vertically spaced openings therein, of a window shade carrierhaving a window shade, means for supporting said carrier for inovementlaterally relative to the guides, and pins attached to the edgesof-tl'le free end portion of the shade in position to engage in theopenings to hold said free end portion'in proper position between theguides and the shade inclined in awning-effect when said carrier ispositioned laterally relative'to the guides."

